Rotterdam plan asks double-digit tax hike

Preliminary 2011 budget ups taxes 11.6 percent; contracts one factor

Published 12:34 am, Thursday, October 7, 2010

ROTTERDAM -- Residents could see an 11.6 percent hike in their property taxes under a tentative $18.4 million general and highway fund budget introduced this week by Supervisor Francis Del Gallo.

Under the 2011 spending plan, the tax levy or amount to be raised through taxes is estimated at around $10.9 million, according to figures which indicate the town has earmarked about $1.5 million in fund balance. If the double-digit tax increase stands, the estimated general homestead tax rate would be $2.40 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

He blamed contractual obligations for police officers and other municipal employees, pension and health insurance costs. For a home assessed at $150,000- the average in Rotterdam - property taxes would increase by $55.55 in 2011, Del Gallo said.

"We're gonna get it down," said the Democrat who blamed past Republican administrations for playing politics. "They didn't raise taxes to get votes."

Del Gallo said Wednesday that he's hopeful the Democrat-controlled Town Board can "come up with different ways to save money."

The panel will in the coming weeks review the budget and will likely revise it.

Town Board member Gerard Parisi, the lone Republican on the board, said Wednesday that Del Gallo needs to stick to his campaign promise of running Rotterdam like a business and lowering taxes.

"They are an incompetent management team," Parisi said of Del Gallo and Deputy Supervisor Robert Godlewski.

Godlewski did not return a call Wednesday seeking comment.

The projected increase to the municipal tax bill does not include special taxes for drainage and sewer districts.

Del Gallo said that a public hearing is slated for later this month, but no date has been set.

Paul Nelson can be reached at 454-5347 or by email at pnelson@timesunion.com